Before the fall festival season began, there were only two already-screened movies with a legitimate shot at a Best Picture nomination: “In the Heights,” and “CODA.” Now, with Telluride and Venice close to being done, we can add at least a half dozen titles titles alongside those two crowdpleasers.
Read moreJohnny Greenwood Will Score Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘Soggy Bottom’
Jonny Greenwood, the guitarist and backbone of Radiohead, will be in charge of the music for Paul Thomas Anderson’s upcoming “Soggy Bottom” (that’s actually not the official title, it’s something else, but I’m using it for now).
Read moreDarius Khondji Set as DP for James Gray’s ‘Armageddon Time’
I can report that Darius Khondji (“Uncut Gems”) is set to lens James Gray’s upcoming “Armageddon Time.” An immense addition to Gray’s film as Khondji is one of the very best cinematographers working today.
Read more‘The French Dispatch’ Panned at Telluride
Wes Anderson’s ”The French Dispatch” already world premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this past July, but hadn’t screened in the United States until today. It was met with mostly positive reviews at Cannes, but it definitely felt, to my eyes, at least, like a step back for Anderson. But, like all of his films, I have this nagging feeling it’ll play much better on subsequent viewings.
Read moreYo, Whiplash!
Since Miles Teller refuses to take the COVID-19 vaccine or even get tested, the “Whiplash” star now has to deal with the severe backlash of having “brought” the virus to the set of Paramount Plus’ “The Offer.”
Read moreNYFF Will Have a Secret Screening
After skipping it last year, the New York Film Festival will bring back the secret/surprise screening for this year’s 48th edition. Will it be Spencer? Soggy Bottom? West Side Story? I bet the top brass of the fest don’t even know what they will screen. The NYFF secret screening has delivered on many occasions in the past, memorable films to have gone this route at the fest include Scorsese’s “Hugo,” and Spielberg’s “Lincoln” — both were works-in-progress when they showed up those years.
‘Don’t Look Up’ Screens to More Glowing Reactions
Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up test-screened to more positive notices the other day, with a reader signalling Mark Rylance as a particular standout.
Read moreIt's OK to Admit It, Ridley Scott's ‘Prometheus' is a Great Movie
Don’t be too taken aback by Dom Nero‘s “It’s Time To Redeem Prometheus,” which appeared in the 9.1 edition of Esquire. He calls it a “masterpiece.” He’s closer to the truth than you think. Give the film another look if you don’t believe me.
Read more‘The Card Counter’: Paul Schrader’s Smart, and Disciplined Film Doesn’t Pack a Wallop [Venice]
Paul Schrader was heavily inspired by Robert Bresson’s “The Diary of a Country Priest” for his 2018 magnum opus “First Reformed.” In “The Card Counter,” Schrader again goes all in with Bresson, even recycling a couple of scenes from his own “American Gigolo” (which was partly inspired by Bresson’s “Pickpocket”) for another minimalist character study about redemption but without the brooding intensity of his last film. Call it “Worse Reformed.”
Read moreThe Greatest NFL Movies of All Time
The 2021 football season has just started on August 27th, so what better way to get yourself in the NFL spirit than to re-watch some of the bestfootball movies of all-time?
Read morePaul Schrader Defends Spacey, Rudin, Depp; Compares ‘Cancel Culture’ to the Delta Virus
Paul Schrader doesn’t give a damn about your feelings. He is unafraid to speak his mind. So much so that at times I truly believe he’s just asking to be “canceled.” His posts on Facebook are so unhinged and unabashedly in-your-face that it’s become a daily visit for me.
Read moreVenice: Key Screening Dates
The next few days will be very exciting as some of the year’s most anticipated movies will be unveiled at the Venice Film Festival. It all kicks off with Pedro Almodóvar’s “Madres Paralelas” today.
Read more48th Telluride Film Festival Announces its Lineup
As far as the big titles go, we predicted all of them. The biggest surprises are the two titles that aren’t part of this year’s “official” Telluride Film Festival Lineup: Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch,” and Paul Schrader’s “The Card Counter.”
Read moreKenneth Branagh’s ‘Belfast’ Set to World Premiere at the Telluride Film Festival
Well, it’s practically official, I’m being told that Kenneth Branagh’s “Belfast” will have its World Premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and NOT at TIFF
Read moreNever Too Early to Spitball Cannes ‘22
This will probably be the one and only time this year that I spitball predictions for next May’s Cannes Film festival because, well, it’s very hard to think this far ahead right now. Regardless, a lot of productions affected by the pandemic during these last 15 months are set to finally be ready for Cannes next year. This is still a very tentative list of potential Cannes ’22 competition titles and, obviously, subject to change:
Read more‘The Batman’: Another Test-Screening Reaction With Detailed Plot Points
Final Telluride Predictions
The Telluride Film Festival is set to begin on Wednesday, which is also when its entire 30-film lineup will be revealed. TIFF has become a major launching pad for Oscar contenders — 13 of the last 14 Best Picture winners have played there (“Green Book” being the sole exception).
Read moreFirst Look at David Cronenberg’s ‘Crimes of the Future’
Robert Eggers’ ‘The Northman’ Test-Screens in Dallas
I have been a fan of Robert Eggers’ filmmaking ever since I saw “The Witch” at Sundance more than 6 years ago. He’s the real deal, even if I thought “The Lighthouse,” a decently watchable film, was a tad beneath his skills as a filmmaker.
Read more‘Dune’ Screens to Polarizing Early Reactions
Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” was always going to be specifically aimed at fans of the 1965 Frank Herbert novel, no to mention those still heartbroken about the disastrous 1984 David Lynch version.
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